The month of May is packed with activity and growth. Over the past century, from Kentucky Derby to Indianapolis 500, we have witnessed horsepower increase immensely. From May Day, that highlights the passing of seasons and atmospheric pressures, growth and fertility of earth’s blooming, to Memorial Day that contemplates passing humanity and honoring those who gave their life for a greater good and those who impacted our existence, we also salute mothers and graduates while springing into summer’s slower pace. In the Catholic Church May honors Mother Mary, surrounded by the verdant landscape that pays tribute also to Mother Earth. There are many reasons to enjoy the month of May.

In churches, it also marks the beginning of an annual time to reflect, relax, review, redirect, revitalize, and rebuild. This May, Pope Leo XIV released his first papal encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, that contemplates morality in the age of artificial intelligence. In the introduction, he references the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile in the fifth and sixth centuries BCE. The reconstruction effort was a process of deep prayer that examined the situation, recognized vulnerabilities, interviewed and engaged those willing to help, sought and used everyone’s talents, trusted God’s leadership, and involved any who wished to participate. Through the shared responsibility of all, with God at the center, their faith-filled undertaking was successful, and they rebuilt. In my three urban parishes, staff members, council members, and other local leaders will use the months ahead to study the book, Rebuilt, by Father Michael White and Tom Corcoran, a story of how they engineered the spiritual reconstruction of a particular parish a quarter century ago. Like the rebuilding of Jerusalem, it provides many lessons for me and my faith communities to learn, just as it does for any church that wants to be more relevant in the twenty-first century. 

The book begins by acknowledging that we are part of a consumer society that brings our consumer mentality into church. But church is not for consumers, it is for disciples. Disciples are those who follow. Following Christ, His mission and His Gospel message, means using the gifts and talents we possess to build the city of God together and advance the unfolding of salvation. The book acknowledges that many citizens wander aimlessly, seeking a sense of purpose and understanding of their destiny and that many searchers seem lost; they would benefit from guidance to help them identify their north star and follow their interior compass. Christ is the way and will provide a way for anyone who seeks it. The church can be both the sanctuary that safeguards us and the vessel that takes us to our heavenly destiny.

Even though our nature is consumerism (to get as much as we give or to strike a good deal), as people of God our standard is discipleship (giving without wanting earthly reward). Some disciples can also be apostles. An apostle is one who is sent. Different from “evangelization” that has developed a negative connotation, apostles have a missionary heart and inviting spirit; by words and deeds they express their faith and encourage others to join them.  Though vulnerable to the part of us that is a consumer, the part that is apostle and disciple will inspire us to construct great things together.

I used Rebuilt at previous parishes to help grow the community, change the mindset, or redirect the school. Our chief objective at inner city communities now is to move from a sense of merely surviving to becoming thriving parishes that strengthen the heart of the city through a meaningful sacramental and spiritual presence. I hope that book studies at the parishes will help us crank up the horsepower of our mission so that, like Saint Francis of Assisi who, in the thirteenth century, was instructed by Jesus to rebuild His church, we can spiritually reconstruct our urban communities in ways that invite Catholics and others throughout the metropolitan area to participate in revitalizing, refurbishing, and rebuilding faith at its core. As May turns to summer, it is a great time to take on the challenge.